MODERN MASQUERADES

Honestly, I have never heard about this irish quartet before spotting some reviews here in PA. And upon hearing this album is easy to understand why. Fruupp is the typical case where the band members are very skilled and well intentioned, the production is right and the singer is ok (although it is also their weakest point). The major problem is at the songwriting department: they are not capable of writing some interesting things and the record simply fails to catch your atention for very long. You can find some nice moments here and there, but little else.

This is their fourth (and last) release and, according to some people, their best. If it is, then I can understand why they were never a big name in business. The obvious great musicanship can't hide the fact those guys simply can't deliver something that really sticks on your ear. There are some Beatles and Moody Blues influences, but still they were unable to write captivating melodies like those bands. Not that the tracklist is bad: some tunes are good, but the songs fail to bring anything really exciting or convincing in the end. So, after repeated listenings, I'm still not moved by anything here save some parts of tracks like Germenghast, Sheba's Song and the beatlesque Masquerading With Dawn. Not even Ian Mcdonald (ex King Crimson, who is the producer and also plays some sax) could save this record from being quite boring. 2 stars.